My hospital stay...

So on the morning of June 7th I woke up with a fever of 99.5 and slight headache.  I took some Ibuprofen and slept for several hours. But later that evening I felt fine.  The next morning I woke feeling even worse and I took my temp and not too my surprise is was 101.0. Now for cancer patients anything over 100.4 the doctors get concerned.  So I called Dr. Draper and he wanted to me to get to the hospital and get a blood and urine culture to check for infection as well as a complete blood count.  I quickly got dressed, ran Kalli to the sitters and drove myself to the hospital.  After getting my blood drawn and all that I came back home and slept for several hours again.  I was woken up by a phone call from Dr. Draper telling me that I needed to head to the hospital. That I had something called neutripenic fever. Which is basically when your white counts are so low that you most likely have an infection and your body will have trouble fighting it off on it's own.  He said I needed to go get fluids, antibiotics and a Neupogen shot for a couple of days.  So basically called my mom to see if she could take me as Kurt was hard to reach at work.  I was pretty sad that I wouldn't be able to see Kalli for a few days and I didn't get to say goodbye.  But I knew I needed to get healthy.
 Once I arrived at the hospital there was a lot of waiting around before I was really seen by anyone.  Once things got settled though they hooked me up to my port and started me on the antibiotics and fluids. They took my temp and at the time it was normal.  Luckily I got there in time to get a meal LOL. My mom stayed with me for a few hours while I got settled in and then she left for the night.  I was able to talk on the phone with Kalli which made me happy even though she had no idea what was going on.  I was pretty wound up that night because I couldn't sleep. I read for awhile and then my friend Amy that works there stopped by after her shift. I think she left sometime after 1AM.  I finished my book then finally fell asleep after 2 AM.  I woke up around 4 AM freezing with the chills.  The nurse came in and I told her I had the chills and would like another blanket. Of course she just said yeah the room is cold and didn't take my temp.  But about an hour later the PCA came in and my temp was 101.5 I believe and I said I knew I had a temp! But I didn't get any relief from my fever until the morning nurse came in and I asked for some tylenol.
So day number two at the hospital started out with a chest xray. They were concerned with the fever and wanted to see if I had any infection in my lungs.  After that I slept for several hours and didn't really eat lunch I wasn't very hungry.  Kurt came and saw me that day after he got off work. It was nice to see him.  After he left I fell asleep about 9PM.  I woke up at 3 AM sweating like crazy and I had a fever of 102.3 along with a headache again. They gave me something much sooner this time to relieve my fever.  And I was able to sleep for a few more hours.
Day three... My mom came to visit I think she got there around 11ish.  I found out that I needed to get an Echo on my heart and a CAT Scan to better check my lungs. Oh yeah I forgot to mention that since my counts were so low anytime I left my room I had to where a mask. (not my favorite thing to do). So we spent a couple hours getting those things done and headed back to my room.  Oh I also should mention that after the first night I found my breathing to be more difficult and kind of painful when I would try to breath too hard.So they were checking why that was as well.  After talking to a pulmonary doctor he determined that my labored breathing was due to the fluids they were giving me getting into my lungs and that I should be taken off the fluids and given a medicine that would basically help my "relieve" the built up water in my body.  He said that I would get a dose then and then one in the morning and that they would do another xray a couple hours after that does to see how my chest look. Well I didn't get to go home that day like I had hoped. But Kurt did bring up Kalli to visit so that really made my day! My mom took Kalli for the night and everyone left.  I again got another fever of 101.3 I think that night.
Day four.... They stopped giving me my Nuepogen shots today. Said that my white counts looked great and that they were also probably causing the constant headaches I was getting.  But anyways I got yet another xray and had to wait to see Dr. Draper and the pulmonary dr.  I didn't feel good again and slept for several hours. I had been doing this everyday.  So I met with Dr. Draper first and he said that I wasn't going home. Since I wasn't feeling well and still getting fevers.  I got really depressed and I was totally bummed.  Kurt had taken Kalli to Stricker's Grove so my mom came up to cheer me up and keep me company.  Later I spoke with the pulmonary dr and he said that there was still a little something on my xray. So he was going to continue with the meds that night and the next morning and do another xray.
Day five... I did yet another xray and after many hours of anxiously waiting I found out the xray was clear and I was able to go home.  That was the best news I had heard in a few weeks. Kurt and Kalli came and picked me up and I was home by 6 PM!

Days following Tenth Chemo

DAY 1 (June 15, 2011) -

Woke up feeling tired today but not horrible just run down.  I went and got my shot and hung out the rest of the day.  My taste is of course off as usual. No new news there. Sorry these posts just get more and more boring. But is is just the same ole thing every time.  I think you all know what happens to me each week now as well as I do.  LOL

Chemo Number Ten

After my 5 day stay at the hospital I was able to get my Chemo today.  Today is Tuesday and I am used to getting my treatments on Fridays so that did through me a little but oh well I guess. My counts were above normal due to the Neupogen shots I had while I was at the hospital. For anyone that doesn't know Neupogen boosts your white blood cells. Since this was all a last minute deal I had to go to the appointment by myself.  I would have been horrible company today anyways because I slept the entire time.  My body is still trying to adjust after being in the hospital I believe.  I made it home at 11 today and I slept until close to 5PM.  I was super knocked out.  My appetite hasn't be great since coming home and today was no exception.  Luckily though I haven't really lost any weight and I am going to try to keep it that way.  I have a touch of the discomfort in my knees and arms again. But it doesn't seem to be as bad as normal. So I am not complaining.  Well that is all I got for today.  I do plan on writing up a separate entry about my hospital stay here soon.  Take care. Lots of love!

Days following Ninth treatment

DAY 1 (May 28, 2011)

Slept quite well last night. Woke up and felt a little worn out and tired.  But later on was able to got pick up Kalli and go eat dinner.  I am super exhausted now. Taste was of course off. Well sorry this is so short but that is all I really have.

DAY 2 (May 29, 2011)

Woke up today feeling pretty well. Went to Kurt's aunts for a pool party. Did well for a while then the sun and heat just really got to me and I had to go inside and rest. Soon after that we left.  I fell asleep about an hour after we got home and slept pretty much the entire night with no issue.

DAY 3 (May 30, 2011)

Woke up worn out this morning.  Kalli and Kurt went to hang out with a bunch of people at Delhi Park to play in the water and I slept pretty much the whole time. When they got home Kalli and I lounged in her pool for a bit and then we all went and got ice cream.  I am now ready for bed.  Taste is still pretty bad and I just can't quench my thirst!! So annoying!!

DAY 4 (May 31, 2011)

Woke up very tired again.  Kurt started his new job today so I took Kalli to sitters and slept basically all day. Taste started to return today so i was super excited for that!! Nothing really exciting went on today.

DAY 5 (June 1, 2011)

Woke up feeling okay today. But after getting home from dropping Kalli off at sitters I pretty much slept the entire day again. My whole body ached. It hasn't let up all day. It was very hard to be motivated to do anything. But I did manage to load the dishwasher and give Kalli a bath.  Other than that nothing else to report.

Chemo Number Nine

To start this entry off I have to share that I AM CANCER FREE!! It feels great to know that. It will really help me charge through these last few chemo treatments.

I met with Dr. Draper today. Pretty much all we talked about was how my cancer is gone.
I then went on to my treatment.  I didn't gain any weight since my last treatment.  I got my favorite nurse Kim again. She is super awesome.  For some reason the benedryl wasn't on my order so it was given to me a bit later than usual. It put me right out. I slept for like an hour and a half.  Other than that the chemo went smooth.
I had a good talk with one of my fellow cancer patients today.  I have seen her there several times but today was the first time we talked. She came and introduced herself to me.  She is 29 years old and has breast cancer. She has been in treatment since September and has until this December until she is through.  She has two kids, an 8 year old and a 1 year old. She just had surgery to have a huge tumor removed and now also to do radiation as well as Chemo.  The reason I am telling you all about her because the entire time we were talking she didn't take the smile off her face.  She is a strong woman and I admire her for that.  Cancer is rough and the treatments are rough but once the cancer is gone we can go on living our lives. And for me I plan to make my life even better and fuller.

My mom took Kalli for the night again. I continued to be quite tired and I took a couple hour nap.  My knees and arms are bothering me again.  My appetite is normal right now but my taste is already starting to get bad.

Well that's all I got for now...

Again I want to say that I love you all that have supported and prayed for me. It truly means alot!!!

Days following Eighth Chemo

DAY 1 (May 14, 2011) -

First I forgot to say yesterday that I had gained 3 and half pounds since last visit! That is a total of about 15lbs gained since starting treatment.

So I slept decent last night.  Woke up worn out today. I just laid on the couch the whole day. My taste was way way off today and I have a horrible mouth sore so eating sucked.  I mean nothing tasted right not even a little. Not even orange pop which usually tastes okay.  I tried taking a nap but only got about an hour in. Well I really guess that is it for today.

DAY 2 (May 15, 2011) -

Slept well. But was tired all day. I slept a ton.  My taste was still off and it was hard to eat anything.  My sore is about gone which does help. Sorry this is so short but that is really all I have to say for today.

DAY 3 (May 16, 2011) -

Slept good last night. Didn't even need to read before bed I just pooped right out. I woke up super tired.  We ended up taking Kalli to sitters and I slept for about a total of 4 hours for a nap.  I think I could have slept more.  My taste and appetite was still not right.  So annoying!!

DAY 4 (May 17, 2011) -

Slept good again last night. Went right to sleep no reading needed again.  Bone pain started today and was still pretty tired.  Did some more laying around and napping.  My taste is slowly starting to come back which is awesome. But still can't quench my thirst.  I am hoping by tomorrow that will all be back to normal.

DAY 5 (May 18, 2011) -

No problem with sleep again. Woke up feeling pretty good.  Almost back to "normal".  Still didn't do a whole lot during the day even took a nap.  But we did manage to go out for dinner.  It was much needed. With the weather being crazy and me laying around the last few days I just had to get out of the house. Still had a good amount of bone pain. That is really all to report for today.

The Eighth Chemo

Or otherwise known as the chemo that almost didn't happen.  I have had a very painful toothache for the last couple of days. Well I know that you are unable to get certain procedures done at the dentist while on chemo. So I asked my nurse about the restrictions and getting something for the pain. She went and asked the Nurse Practitioner about it.  The NP came back and told me that she thought that I shouldn't do treatment today that I should try to get in to the dentist today. That today would be the best day to get anything done. And once I did chemo I would have to wait again to do anything.  I told her that I rather just do the chemo.  She said no please call you dentist. So I did and they are apparently closed on Fridays. So she insisted on calling the on call dentist. She also told me that with my counts they way they were she didn't want to give me treatment if I had an infection.  Well about 20 mins later she came to me and told me that she spoke to the head NP and she said to go ahead with treatment. And that I should just get with my dentist soon. And they prescribed an antibiotic and a pain killer (which she didn't originally want to do either)  I was so relieved at this point. I was basically in tears before that.  I just didn't want to postpone my treatment and if I did that then I would have to postpone my PET scan that I have scheduled and it would all just be a pain in my ass.  So after all that was said and done my treatment went well.  I feel asleep this time.  I was fighting it but didn't win.  Been a long time since I have fallen asleep at treatment.  My mom took Kalli for that night and I was unable to fall asleep.  And I am just now starting to get the strange feeling in my knees and tingling in my arms.  And I am tired but not fall asleep tired.  Just have to say I am so happy I got to do treatment today.  I would have disappointed if I didn't get to do it.  I would rather do treatment and live through the pain of my tooth.  I just want to get well already!!!!